Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory is the fifth book in The Wedding Date books - you can read them in any order, really! Olivia Monroe and Max Powell meet in a hotel bar late one night, strike up a conversation and depart without exchanging numbers - kicking themselves! When a second chance encounter occurs, Max doesn’t let Olivia out of his sight. I just loved how their story not only showed the path of their relationship but also their paths of discovering who they are inside and outside of a relationship.

I really loved the first two books of the series, and bought multiple copies of the first as a gift.

Unfortunately, this newest addition to the series didn't work for me at all. I didn't like Olivia's personality at all - it ruined the entire story for me.

That said, I will continue to recommend the first book of the series! I will also look forward to Jasmine's next release.

I love Jasmine Guillory and her writing and this book was no exception!!! Such a cute rom com and I loved the pairing of a senator with a lawyer. This hit it out if the park with all of the authors usual balance of romance and witty banter!!!

This book was a sweet romance novel, with enjoyable characters and a fun storyline, But ultimately this reminded me too much of the author's previous novels. I enjoyed them early on, but now it’s beginning to feel like the same story over and over. I was excited about this one because of the political/fame angle. I was hoping for a larger focus on that with some deeper insights into the relationships and those struggles, butI it lacked the depth I was hoping for.

I always really enjoy Jasmine Guillory's diverse romances. Her characters are always fun, and the stories are always light-hearted entertainment. This book brings back some familiar characters from Guillory's other books as we follow Olivia's unlikely relationship with a senator and the inevitable media storm that follows. I do think there was some missed opportunities for more depth in this novel-- I feel like the racial aspect of their relationship could have been further explored, but overall, this was a fun and easy read that's perfect for summer.

Political but sexy romp with the junior senator and the freshly relocated lawyer. From the inconspicuous meeting to the inevitable reconciliation, you find yourself pulling for these two.

Another hit out of the park but I have to be honest.... this is one of the only heroines she's ever written about that I have complex or mixed feelings. I didn't like Olivia much. I grew to like her at the end ,and in spite of these feelings was hoping for their happiness till the last word!

I have enjoyed all of Jasmine Gillory’s previous books and this one continues the streak. She always has relatable characters and while sometimes the conflicts between the characters can seem a bit predictable I died the mind because I loved spending time with all of the characters. She also always has the best descriptions of food! I always recommend her books to friends and I will be enthusiastically recommending it to people all summer!

Guillory writes books with great relatable curvy heroines. This new title is a pleasurable read, and is sure to delight her fans.

A chance meeting in a bar leaves an impression on both Olivia and Max. When they come across each other unexpectedly at a fundraiser Max starts to woo Olivia with cake. A story of 2 very different people who can't stop thinking about each other. Will they find a way to be very different people together?

This is my first Jasmine Guillory book. I had seen/read a lot of good things about her first two books in her "Wedding Date" series and wanted to check this one out. A successful not-skinny black woman in her mid-late 30s finding love? Sign me up.

Admittedly, it took me some time to get into the story.

I felt more drawn to Max's impulsive, say-before-thinking personality as my personality is somewhat similar. So while I related to Olivia in that we're both 30+ black women trying to make it in a career/world not meant for us and we both have trouble expressing ourselves, I found her skittishness to be a bit annoying. I found myself frustrated like Max that she would leave him hanging during key conversations during their relationship. But I completely understand being upset about being put on blast. A black woman's #1 dating rule is to not embarrass her in public. Don't do it.

I didn't realize this was technically the 5th book in a series, but I'm glad it did well as a standalone. Overall I liked this fluffy and saccharine story. I did think the relationship moved kind of fast for a couple that only saw each other on the weekends, but it worked for them. I would love to see turned into a Hallmark movie.

This ARC was given from Netgalley for an honest review.

I continue to appreciate Guillory's romances so much - so refreshing and fresh, she doesn't shy away from contemporary issues but also doesn't jump on a soapbox and lose sight of what she's writing.

This was a great continuation of the The Wedding Date series by Jasmine Guillory. I've read all of them and they're just plain fun! Party of Two is about cautious lawyer Olivia Monroe (her sister Alexa started off this series in The Wedding Date) and impulsive Senator Max Powell. This totally works as a stand-alone because we don't see previous characters other than Olivia's sister.

This is a perfect summer beach read...or quarantine read. Either way it works!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Party of Two is my favorite of Jasmine's books so far! I love to read romantic fiction, and I really enjoy when the characters have lives of their own and make decisions that feel real to the characters background and lives. I love how the main characters in this book have "real" issues and conversations with each other that moves the plot forward, but it really made me root for the characters as individuals and a couple.

I was excited to see another Jasmine Guillory book! Humor, romance, and passion show up throughout the book. The characters are real; not perfect but the grow during the story.

I have loved all Jasmine Guillory's books and her latest didn't disappoint! Perfect for readers looking for a hero and heroine with clear goals and ambitions who just happen to fall in love. A great fun and sexy read to dig into during an election year.

I don’t think jasmine Guillery can write a bad book. I loved this story and I’m sure it will be popular with all of her fans. Can’t wait for more!

This is such a great romance. I will always love Guillory's books. I love how she connects the characters in each one. I love how the relationships feel real. I especially love how she always seems to talk about food :) This one didn't have as much angst as some of the others, they were together for most of the book. Highly recommend.

Readers won't be disappointed in Guillory's newest rom-com. Olivia meets senator Max at her hotel bar when she first moves to LA to start her own law firm, and they slow begin to hit it off. They have to tread lightly, however, because of how public Max's life is, and choose to keep their relationship a secret for the time being. Will they ever be able to bring their relationship public?

I'll be the first to admit I am not the usual romance reader...but I like when I can swoon for a book, and so this, my second Jasmine Guillory book, was a nice way to take my mind off a pandemic and spend a day or two. I was actually trying to decide if this would be a good pick for a book club, but it was a little to explicit for our audience--but I think most readers will enjoy this book!

Olivia Monroe moves to LA to finally start her own law firm. She's got it planned out, and she's level-headed, but then she meets a guy at her hotel bar and later at a semi-work event, and...things get complicated. Because he's not just any guy. He's the junior Senator from California, and he's an eligible bachelor, and he's SUPER into her. As Max and Olivia fall for each other, she must decide how much of herself she is willing to share with the public and how to balance their very different decision making styles. Max is impulsive and quick to respond and Olivia is a thinker and takes her time with decisions and yet they both love cake and volunteering and each other...but will they be able to take the public scrutiny? It's like Meghan/Harry but stateside and a little less intense, at least on the page, but it's swoony and got good sex scenes--if you're into that sort of stuff--but also a unique little political backstory!

So I've heard hit or miss thing about Guillory's first couple books,but I liked Royal Holiday, and I liked Party of Two! This felt SUPER low stakes to me, but I kind of liked that. The criticism of Olivia didn't lean too heavily into itself--that would have made me just sad--and it does have that HEA we all want, plus it's got cute date ideas and so much cake.I liked it. It's nothing that's going to change the world, but it made me laugh and smile and that's exactly what I wanted it to do. Also, hell yes to strong female characters with full personalities and quirks and interests who don't change for a man!